It's all over now

Well that was the Easter football programme then, and no great difficulty in finding the eggs this year, they were openly scattered around the pitch in white shirts. Two very poor performances have brought home the realities of what a year with two up and two down between the 3rd Division and the Conference might bring. We would be a little less comfortable than we are right now, and if there was ever a reason to go squad strengthening, with a view to being well up the table from the start to the finish of a season, then that must be it.

With the financial future of the club now at least mapped out, if not exactly comfortable, then the settling of the management, playing squad, and board room combinations should be, at last (we hope) high on the agenda.

The fans forum which is now scheduled for 17th April, will give many people a chance to finally ask the questions that they have wanted answers to for some weeks or even months. Hopefully we will get the answers, openly, and then many issues that have, and continue to cloud football matters around the club will be finally laid to rest. Maybe then we can start to look forward to next season with some enthusiasm.

No one will relish the thought of too many away trips like we have been subjected to, or at least, subjected ourselves to this year. Losing is accepted on times, but passionless, apathetic performances are not. You don't always get good side shows like the Halifax chip pan fire demonstration, the female dancers at half time at Rushden (sadly missed by Mr Martin's camera), or even the 1,473 motor bikes that those who returned on Monday via Silverstone had the pleasure of counting whilst sitting in a motionless car for many a minute, Sometimes the game on an away trip is all you see, and it can be a long journey home. Let's hope for better things next year. Talking of Halifax, who are now confirmed as heading out of the League; let all travelling Conference fans take comfort from the fact that a wonderful food emporium awaits them after the climb over the Pennines.

All things must pass

I notice that Colin Addison has now commented on the possible permanent appointment of Roger Freestone and Nick Cusack as the management team, with a dire warning. Every fan will have their views on whether they should or should not be the management team for next year. I am sure that the results over Easter would have stirred up a few people's thoughts, including maybe, theirs. Most fans also have their views on whether Addo should have gone in the first place, but whatever has happened has happened, and whoever gets appointed, gets the reins, and will have a difficult job to do. I always think that clubs have to move on, and past managers commenting like this just appears to smack of bitterness. This whole issue just seems to be rumbling on at the moment with every opportunity the press have of raising past names with the club. This doesn't help anyone in my mind.

Play it Sam

Nothing agreed yet then on the date for the final of the FAW Premier Cup against Hammam City. All options put forward by each club are being discounted by the other, although I think that the thought of playing the game some 4 weeks after our last match is ridiculous. We have seemingly offered a date ahead of the play-offs but they don't seem happy with that, and with the FAW allegedly edging their allegiances away from Swansea, which comes as a great surprise, the issue is being forced upon us. The interesting option put forward is using the game as almost a kick off to next season, but taking part of the cash reward now. Holding the game over for 4 months would not be a welcome move for the purse holders at Swansea without the earlier release of funds, so hopefully the FAW will see our position clearly as well, and ask a fellow Welsh club to help us. The serious issue here of course is the news that a mid May fixture would cause complications for the BBC who will be covering the Chelsea Flower Show……………………….plenty of fertiliser on show whichever one they broadcast really, so does it matter.

Rovers Return

It's been good to see that a few of the Pentredwr Rovers side from the late 70s saw the article in this column a couple of weeks back. I've seen more of the players this past two weeks than for a long time. No one answered my question of what happened to the team, so if anyone does know, I'd be pleased to hear. As I get my memory working a bit better, I'll throw in a few other on field and off field reminiscences that might just jog a few others' memories as well. If anyone's got any stories from those days gone by, e-mail me.

If anyone has any feedback to give me, I'd love to hear from you at pauly@scfc.co.uk